Valium / Diazepam News Blog

A former state Department of Correctional Services pharmacist was indicted by a St. Lawrence County grand jury for trading drugs for sex.

Marc J. Mahay, 36, of 23 Little Hammond Road, Hammond, was indicted on two counts of fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. It is alleged he possessed and sold diazepam and alprazolam to Katherine M. Tyler, Ogdensburg, twice in return for sex. Both drugs are used for the treatment of anxiety. Diazepam is commonly known as Valium. Alprazolam is often sold under the name Xanax.

Mahay and Tyler were arrested in September. Charges against her are pending. Their arrests were noted as resulting from an investigation into the illegal trade in prescription narcotics throughout the county. It resulted in three doctors surrendering their medical licenses.

Abraham A. Gonyou Jr., AKA Skip, 37, of 3093 Route 310, Madrid, was indicted for third-degree grand larceny. The indictment replaces one that was dismissed by County Judge Jerome J. Richards in January.

The new indictment alleges Gonyou, who runs Skip's Auto, with stealing $6,506.88 July 22 by issuing a bad check for the purchase of 463.5 gallons of diesel fuel and 2,250.69 gallons of regular gasoline from MX Fuels, Massena. The original indictment was dismissed because it failed to state the date on which the check was issued.

PLATTSBURGH -- The Plattsburgh State freshman who vandalized the Regina-Maria Retreat House agreed to a plea deal Friday.

Matthew Haddock, 20, of 228 Macomb Hall plead guilty in Plattsburgh City Court to fourth-degree criminal mischief for using a broom to break three stained-glass windows at the historic house at 77 Brinkerhoff St. on Jan. 14 after a night of drinking.

The windows, which featured portrayals of St. Elizabeth, St. George and Joan of Arc, were installed in 1925 in the chapel area of the home, which was built around 1870.

Haddock, originally from Groton, N.Y., was initially charged with second-degree criminal mischief, criminal trespassing and petit larceny and sent to Clinton County Jail, with bail set at $5,000. He was released Jan. 23 on his own recognizance.

City Police said at the time of his arrest that Haddock had shown a great deal of remorse for his actions.

"We put a plea bargain out to (Haddock) based on our office's investigation and interviews with the nuns at the Regina Maria house," District Attorney Andrew Wylie said Friday.

The nuns expressed concern for Haddock's welfare, and Wylie said their feelings "influenced (the District Attorney's) office to reduce the original felony charge down to a misdemeanor."

Sentencing is scheduled for May 5, at which time, Wylie said, Haddock will likely be sentenced to three years of probation, community service and restitution.

The amount of restitution Haddock will pay is still being determined, Wylie said, but he will have to pay a large portion of it at the time of sentencing.

Jonathan B. Ezell, 44, now an inmate at PSB was sentenced Thursday in Jefferson County Court to six months in the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building and five years' probation for stealing copper flashing from his employer. He was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to Erie Materials, 22293 Teal Drive, town of Pamelia. He had plead guilty Jan. 17 to third-degree grand larceny for stealing 13 rolls of flashing from the town of Pamelia business and selling it to contractors and for scrap value.

Joel B. Aparico-Quiro, 20, of 132 N. Main St., Black River, was sentenced to five years' probation after pleading guilty Jan. 13 to third-degree assault.

It was alleged he shook a 2-month-old baby at his home Oct. 13, causing a non-displaced skull fracture and broken ribs. His probation supervision is expected to be transferred to California.

Carol L. Mecca, 31, of 518 Lansing St., Watertown, was sentenced to three years' probation after pleading guilty Jan. 13 to third-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument.

It was alleged she altered a prescription for Vicodin so that it called for 160 pills instead of the 60 pills her doctor ordered. She presented it to pharmacists at Rite Aid, 842 State St., who noted the requested 60-day supply was three times the amount prescribed by the doctor.

Benjamin P. Davis, 20, of 29997 Elm Ridge Road, Evans Mills, was sentenced to three years' probation after pleading guilty Jan. 11 to fourth-degree criminal mischief and second-degree harassment.

It was alleged he broke a car window belonging to Charles L. Schweinsberg, 25, after verbally challenging the other man to roll down the window following a traffic dispute Jan. 9, 2005, on Public Square. He also was ordered to pay $384.50 for the window.

Lisa M. Hunt, 22, of 24361 Route 11, Calcium, plead guilty to petit larceny and was sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge. She also was ordered to perform 30 hours of community service, to be completed within 90 days.

It was alleged she possessed a credit card stolen from Daphne J. Pierce and used the card at an ATM to withdraw $500 from the woman's account. She has made restitution for the stolen amount.

Ruth C. Schryver, 27, of 352 Winslow St., Watertown, was sentenced to a three-year conditional discharge after pleading guilty Dec. 23 to fourth-degree grand larceny. It was alleged she stole more than $3,000 from Auntie Anne's in Salmon Run Mall on May 15. She also was ordered to pay restitution. She is on probation for a prior unrelated conviction.

Mark J. Brown, an inmate at the PSB, was referred to Drug Court after pleading guilty to three counts of third-degree grand larceny and four counts of fourth-degree grand larceny, as well as various misdemeanor charges.

It is alleged he failed to complete roofing repairs for which he was paid. He stole a total of at least $13,000 from residents in Watertown and Brownville who hired him to make home repairs. He also stole tools valued at $1,449 and forged a withdrawal slip to remove $4,650 from someone else's HSBC account. He was ordered to make restitution for all of the money stolen.

Christopher S. Petrus, 18, of 29662 Route 3, Black River, plead guilty to third-degree burglary. Sentencing was set for May 12.

It was alleged he participated in a burglary ring that resulted in as much as $28,000 in goods were stolen in October from homes in the towns of Rodman, Rutland, LeRay and Pamelia and the village of Carthage.

He admitted in court that he entered a barn at the home of Michael G. VanWaldick, Whitford Road, Rodman, on Oct. 1 and helped steal two all-terrain vehicles and a dirt bike.

John W. Taylor, 49, of 22934 Pamelia Ave., Watertown, plead guilty to Felony DWI. Sentencing was set for May 12. He had been charged Jan. 1 with DWI on Route 11 in Watertown.

Crystal K. Staring, 34, Pohl Rd. Boonville was arrested for taking more than $500 from the South Lewis Pop Warner football team last year while serving as its cheerleading coach.

She was arrested for11 counts of petit larceny and a single count of scheme to defraud.

She allegedly collected the money from parents and never turned it over to the program.

Staring was arraigned before West Turin Town Justice John Markham and released on her own recognizance to reappear at a later date.

Edward J. Niles, 27, of 211 E. Orvis St., Massena was arrested for third-degree assault, second-degree unlawful imprisonment, third-degree intimidating a witness and endangering the welfare of a child following a domestic incident. He was arraigned in Village Court and was ordered held in St. Lawrence County jail on $5,000 cash bail or a $10,000 bond.

Michael W. Harris Jr., 28, of 305 Gotham St., Apt. 1, Watertown was arrested for petit larceny. It is alleged he stole #20 from Sugar Creek on Mill St. He is to appear March 22 in Watertown City Court.

It is further alleged he scratched off three $20 state Lottery tickets and did not pay for them.

Arthur J. John, 18, of 409 W. Main St., Apt. 2, Watertown was arrested for first and second degree rape. He was jailed on$10,000 cash bail for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl.

City Judge James C. Harberson remanded him to the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building after police charged first- and second-degree counts of rape.

It is alleged that the victim was forcibly subjected to sexual intercourse by John, an acquaintance, between midnight and 3 a.m. Thursday in a house on the north side of the city of Watertown.

Amy S. Brodt, 22, Kirschnerville Road, Lowville was arrested for seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and petit larceny. It is alleged she stole prescription medication from another residence She is to appear in Village of Lowville Justice Court.

Brian K. Opeifa, 17, of 140 High St., Apt. 8F, Watertown was arrested for possessing a noxious material. It is alleged he discharged pepper spray at the Watertown Teen Center. It is alleged Anthony L. Matthews, 19, of 325 S. Massey St., was sprayed with the substance.

Lawrence W. Deshane, 28, of 11958 Route 37, Waddington was arrested for petit larceny after he allegedly failed to pay $25.01 for a gasoline fill-up at Stewart's Shop convenience store, 10211 Route 56. He is to appear in Louisville Town Court.

Brad J. Eggsware, 18, Tupper Lake, was arrested for second-degree criminal trespass.

It is alleged he trespassed on a porch in an attempt to enter a house without permission. He was arraigned in Village of Tupper Lake Justice Court and was released from jail after posting $1,000 cash bail.

Ashley A. Arruda, 19, of 132 William St., Watertown was arrested for petit larceny at Kohl's, outer Arsenal Street, Watertown. It is alleged she stole a $60 pair of sneakers.

State police say computer equipment valued at about $10,000 was stolen in a burglary discovered Wednesday morning at Computer Repairs Etc., 20255 Route 3, Watertown.

Intruders also "ripped open" a safe, a cash register and file cabinets, leaving documents thrown on the floor, police said. They did not say if cash was stolen.

John L. Morris Jr., 35, of 421 Stone St., Watertown was arrested lfor second degree menacing after he allegedly threatened his live-in girlfriend Theresa A. Smith with a baseball bat.

He was released following arraignment Friday in Watertown City Court.

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